Neighbors’ stake in Airbnb debate

Re “Don’t be too tough on Airbnb rentals” (Editorials, May 29): The editorial considers many players in the Airbnb debate – city, Airbnb operators, hotels and nearby businesses. One player is left out: neighbors. I have experience as a next-door neighbor of an Airbnb rental.

When I moved into my house nearly 30 years ago, the charming single-family homes were occupied by families and retired people. We all know each other, if not by name, then by sight. That changed when my neighbor opened his Airbnb rental. New cars appeared every night. New people going into and out of his home. After all these years, I didn’t expect to live next to an international mini-hotel.

This part of the equation is not explored in the editorial: how does Airbnb affect the quality of life in the neighborhood? City law protects neighborhoods by prohibiting uses that do not perform a neighborhood function. It seems clear to me that hotels, no matter how small, do not perform a neighborhood function.

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Consequences of tobacco bill

Re “California Senate approves increase in legal age to buy tobacco” (Capitol Alert, June 2): In theory, this measure sounds great – remove a dangerous drug from the hands of teenagers and force them to wait until they are more mature to decide to use tobacco. However, one must question exactly how accurately the Senate understands the mindset of a drug-prone teenager.

Speaking as a person who recently graduated from high school, I can say with confidence that legality is typically the last thing on a teenager’s mind when he or she decides to do drugs. And although it seems paradoxical, making something illegal can increase the appeal to impulsive teens who are trying to look cool. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, as long as a vice is seen as wicked, it will always have its fascination; it is only when it is looked upon as vulgar that it will cease to be popular.

Walter Spurlock, Sacramento

Lindsey Graham’s scare tactics

Re “Graham vows to be tough on radical Islam” (Page 7A, June 2): Our history is full of leaders who scared us into war: Woodrow Wilson, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman (into the Cold War), Lyndon Johnson into Vietnam, Ronald Reagan into Grenada, George H.W. Bush into Iraq I and his son into Iraq II. Now along comes Lindsey Graham, running for president on the GOP ticket. His campaign’s opening speech is the most violent, irresponsible, bloodthirsty piece of trash I have ever read; it borders on psychopathy.

God help us should this man be elected president.

John Garon, Placerville

Senators should be role models

Re “Special drivers for senators who drink” (Page 1A, May 31): It makes us sad the taxpayers have to pay to prevent senators from getting a DUI. Now we’re expected to pay someone to ensure they don’t get into trouble, why are they entitled? Aren’t the senators supposed to be role models for the community?

Jeff and Colene Patton,

Roseville

Another scam on the people

Our elected officials now get special drivers so they won’t get busted for drunken driving. And the public is expected to accept Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León’s weak explanation that it is a “security issue”?

De León’s utterly weak explanation that it is for security is a blatant misrepresentation. The truth is, our political system is corrupt when the elected officials are so blatant as to further this type of a scam on the public.

Dave Lindquist, Sacramento

Arrogance revealed

It is apparent that all nine letters to the editor in The Bee on Tuesday show the public’s feeling about our legislators’ arrogance. The fact is that Sen. Kevin de León thinks the ordinary citizen does not deserve a response to the benefit given to our state senators. This is total disrespect for public intellect.

Larry Williams, Placerville

What next?

What will we taxpayers have to do next for these irresponsible alcoholics? Pay for liver transplants?

Gail Schurr, Fair Oaks

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